Compensation

Wal-Mart’s high-profile move to raise its minimum wage was aimed at least in part at boosting its reputation among certain constituencies. But what ever the motive, the action now looks like it may have been inevitable given other rising market forces at work. It’s also apparent that Wal-Mart's maneuver may have set in motion a trend that could affect just about any company with hourly employees.

It would be easy to look back on this trend years from now and say it was all Walmart’s fault—that they started it when they raised pay for 500,000 hourly employees to $10. But it goes much deeper than that.

For CEOs who continue to look for signs that the U.S. economy is really in lift-off mode, new developments in wages are nudging them closer to becoming believers. There are more signs, both statistical and anecdotal, that American wages are on the rise, and some CEOs are actually leading that charge. Should you be part of that trend?

As you review last year’s business results, you’re likely working with your leadership team to help its members develop 2015 stretch goals for themselves and their organizations. However, since most executives think that goals motivate, they believe wrongly that a stretch goal has the added value of challenging people to do more than they otherwise would.

Non-cash rewards and more frequent recognition are attractive alternatives to the traditional, year-end practice of handing out cash bonuses, giving CEOs a new way to say “thank you” and reward top talent.

Restaurant CEOs, who employ thousands of part-timers, have yet to solve the minimum wage dilemma and are still struggling with the issue of whether to raise wages above the minimum wage in their facilities.

One of the main pillars supporting the income inequality debate has been found to be seriously flawed throwing doubt onto the claim that the rich are getting richer. In addition, there is much confusion in the public discourse when politicians talk about the wealthiest Americans. Income is not wealth -- and the whole tax controversy is about income taxes.

Most CEOs earn nowhere near the compensation of their public company counterparts, according to the results of an exclusive Chief Executive Group study of 789 CEOs of privately held companies, which represent the overwhelming majority of firms in the economy.